I've read just about everything by Trigiani, and have enjoyed them all, some so much I even bought the audio after the book. Since I enjoyed the Valentine books so much, I really looked forward to The Shoemaker's Wife.
Bah.
I cannot believe it was written by her, or if it was, it was the very first thing she wrote before she knew how to write, and because she is famous some ninny said, Publish it anyway, it will sell and make us a fortune.
Amatuerish is putting it mildly. This does not read like a novel. It is a boring account of some connected (though not necessarily well-connected) lives, and how they did this, and that, and the other thing, met up with each other and had very minor interactions that caused one of them to half-obsess over being with another. No big emotion or desires here, though. Matter of fact, one wonders what the attraction is, and just what the heck feeds it over the years when NOTHING happens between the male and female leads for years at a time.
There is no excitement, no drama. She will build some tension, oh no, something terrible is going to happen, and then suddenly it is a new day and nothing terrible did happen. (Early in the book when the father takes the horse down the mountain in a snow storm.) Or uh-oh, no! No! Don't do it, watch out! And suddenly out of nowhere somebody rescues the one about to do something that will put some life into this book. (King fans will recall Kathy Bates's rage at James Caan for using a writing ploy in his book to save the heroine, and how she was spitting as she talked about those Saturday morning "Cliff Hangers" cheating with The Hand of God rescues.)
A strong woman, the heroine sure lets some people walk all over her in a way that is so out of character it is laughable.
I can't say much more since I quit halfway through. The first time I've ever done this with a Trigiani book. A shame.
Bah.
I cannot believe it was written by her, or if it was, it was the very first thing she wrote before she knew how to write, and because she is famous some ninny said, Publish it anyway, it will sell and make us a fortune.
Amatuerish is putting it mildly. This does not read like a novel. It is a boring account of some connected (though not necessarily well-connected) lives, and how they did this, and that, and the other thing, met up with each other and had very minor interactions that caused one of them to half-obsess over being with another. No big emotion or desires here, though. Matter of fact, one wonders what the attraction is, and just what the heck feeds it over the years when NOTHING happens between the male and female leads for years at a time.
There is no excitement, no drama. She will build some tension, oh no, something terrible is going to happen, and then suddenly it is a new day and nothing terrible did happen. (Early in the book when the father takes the horse down the mountain in a snow storm.) Or uh-oh, no! No! Don't do it, watch out! And suddenly out of nowhere somebody rescues the one about to do something that will put some life into this book. (King fans will recall Kathy Bates's rage at James Caan for using a writing ploy in his book to save the heroine, and how she was spitting as she talked about those Saturday morning "Cliff Hangers" cheating with The Hand of God rescues.)
A strong woman, the heroine sure lets some people walk all over her in a way that is so out of character it is laughable.
I can't say much more since I quit halfway through. The first time I've ever done this with a Trigiani book. A shame.
There are very few authors who should be allowed to record their own audio books. Trigiani is not one of them. I was listening to the story, captivated by the characters and landscape, when suddenly the voice switched to the author. It was jarring and she just didn't do her wonderful story justice.
I thought the story was well written, but then who am I to say. I'm merely a voracious reader. I've listened to most of Tragiani's books in audio form where she was the reader. So I am accustomed to her unique voice and was not "jarred" as other reviewers said they were upon hearing the transition from reader Annabella Sciorra to Tragiani. When I first started listening to audio books, I was often turned off by the reader's voice. I even hated Dick Hill's voice at first, but now I love listening to him read. And I've grown used to hearing different readers and have learned to adjust my mindset. But back to the story: I loved Ciro and Enza. They were both strong people as was Ciro's mother who had to leave Ciro and his brother with the nuns at the convent. This story is an epic, covering many years, but the entire story just flowed, in my humble opinion. While heartbreaking in some places, there was lots of happiness also. I loved this story! I recommend it!
